Drugnet Europe: monthly news round-up (April 2022)

 

Issue 152: April 2022 DRUG MARKETS Latest analyses of Europe’s cocaine and methamphetamine markets Drug trafficking is a highly profitable commercial activity and remains a core business for organised crime groups across Europe today. Understanding the reality of the European drug market requires a holistic approach, following the supply chain from production and trafficking to distribution and use. Taking such an approach, the EMCDDA and Europol have joined forces to provide their latest overview of the European illicit market for two stimulant drugs: cocaine and methamphetamine. The findings will be presented in a press conference in Brussels on 6 May.  Read more >> EUROPEAN DRUG REPORT 2022 Save the date: 14 June! The EMCDDA will be launching its European Drug Report 2022: Trends and Developments in a live virtual press conference on 14 June. Based on data from 29 countries (EU 27, Turkey and Norway), the report will deliver the latest overview of the drug situation in Europe. The publication, to be available in 25 languages, is an essential resource for developing evidence-based policies and responses. Accompanying the report will be the 2022 Statistical Bulletin and an update on new psychoactive substances in Europe. Further details on how to register will be available soon on our website. Read more >>   EUROPEAN RESPONSES GUIDE New miniguides on responding to drug use in specific settings The EMCDDA’s Health and social responses to drug problems: a European guide includes a set of miniguides devoted to interventions in specific settings. This month, the agency released the last two miniguides in this bundle, focusing on prison and school settings.   Read more >>  Prison and drugs People in prison are more likely to use drugs than those in the general population. In order to respond to their health and social needs, it is vital to have a sound understanding of the interventions available in prisons and which work best. Many people who are hard to reach via services in the community often access drug services for the first time in prison. Although many interventions have been implemented in this setting, people in prison are still faced with a limited range of treatment options.  Miniguide >>  Schools and drugs Adolescence and young adulthood are life stages often associated with risk-taking and experimentation. Education systems should ensure that schools provide evidence-based prevention programmes and have appropriate policies in place to address substance use. This miniguide provides an overview of what to consider when planning or delivering responses to drug-related problems in school and reviews the available interventions and their effectiveness.  Miniguide >>  LEARNING Webinar recording available ‘Women and drugs in Europe — why gender matters’ was the focus of our first webinar of 2022. For those who missed the event on 30 March, you can now catch up by viewing the recording. The webinar explored recent patterns and trends in drug use among women in Europe and the role played by gender in influencing women’s consumption behaviours across settings. Read more >>  | Watch video >>  European Drugs Summer School 2022 Have you registered for this year's European Drugs Summer School? The event, to take place in Lisbon from 27 June–8 July, will focus on 'Community-based interventions for drug-related issues'. The course will include daily in-person lectures and group exercises plus field visits to a mobile methadone unit, a harm-reduction centre and a mobile drug consumption facility.   Read more >> | Deadline: 5 June 2022. ADDICTIONS Inter.GLAM bursaries  Inter.GLAM is an EU-funded project which aims to collaborate with a variety of stakeholders to explore global perspectives and trends that shape drug markets and addictions. As one of the co-producers of #LxAddictions22, Inter.GLAM is offering up to 120 bursaries to support professionals from a variety of sectors who would otherwise not be able to attend the event. The bursaries are aimed at early career researchers, practitioners and decision-makers, particularly from low-income or less research-intensive countries. The selection process will aim to ensure balance in stakeholder profiles, gender, career stage and geography. Bursaries >> | Deadline: 9 May 2022. PARTNERS EMCDDA and Europol Directors discuss future cooperation in The Hague On 29 April, EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel joined Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle in The Hague to discuss future cooperation following recent developments in the agencies’ mandates. The Directors discussed the current drug situation and potential future threats relating to drug-related crime and drug markets. Future activities involving the two agencies include the development of platforms for monitoring criminal activity in darknet drug markets, improving intelligence gathering, and a European Conference on Drug Supply in 2023. Other matters discussed included provision of support for Ukraine, countering internet-based crime, and the ongoing development of the EU Early Warning System on new psychoactive substances, which celebrates 25 years in June. Read more >> VACANCIES We're hiring! We are looking for Administrative and clerical support agents for EMCDDA technical cooperation projects. We will be establishing a reserve list on which to draw according to our project resource needs. Read more >> | Deadline: 13 May 2022. Related links  News | Events | Publications